Deer hunt? Ruger gunsite scout, .308, Burris long eye relief 3x7. Used to be win Weatherby clone in. 300 win mag (overkill on whitetail but soooo much fun to shoot), but that little ruger is just about perfect for hunting deer in the mountains where I hunt.

Stilicho - do you like the Gunsite Scout? I have a Savage Scout in .308, and I really like it. I'm not an aficionado, so I'm sure others would easily point out it's flaws...and it's been about 8 years since I went hunting, so...

Though far from my "best" gun, when I need to grab and go, if we're headed to brush, I'd reach for an old Rem Model 788 in .243 with a cheap 4x scope and a short barrel. It's not much but I've hunted with it for so many years, it'll always be my grab and go and it's always mounted on a deer antler gun rack right above the back door. (Who'd steal it?) The coyotes always steer clear, still good out to 300 yards.

My newer ride is a Savage in .300 WSM topped with a Leupold. It's a nice gun and can be placed on a standing target at 500+ with enough confidence to pull with a clear conscience using a 17" overhold at that range.

Just my 2 cents, I think you should decide which scope you want to put on the gun first. Looking at that pic, it seems someone tried to tap it for a side mount system. I said tried because I can't tell from the pic if those holes are true taps or the result of someone drilling holes.

If I get that call here in Texas we're likely to be hunting from a "blind" outfitted more comfortable than an Alabama vacation home, shooting relatively small deer at 50 yds, so all I need is a Glock 9mm, or slingshot....or throw rocks...

Not sure any of that is legal, so:

Iron Sights: Garand 30.06Scoped: Custom AR 6.5 Grendel.

My only bolt gun is for annoying steel at 1000 yds, kinda' overkill for this "hunting" trip....